Method of adhering protective adhesive film to a device

A method of protecting a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

• providing a protective film product comprising:
• a protective film having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the first major surface and the second major surface being defined by a perimeter, the protective film being air permeable to permit diffusion of gases, the protective film having at least one opening formed to correspond with at least one element of the portable electronic device, the at least one element being at least one of a button, a port, a connector, a jack and an entry point for access to internal components of the portable electronic device;
• an adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface of the protective film;
• and
• a removable cap sheet disposed on the second major surface of the protective film;
• wherein micro air pockets are formed in gaps between a textured surface of said cap sheet and said second major surface of said protective film;
• contacting, by an adhesive area of the adhesive layer, the protective film to a surface portion of the portable electronic device;
• applying pressure on the removable cap sheet of the protective film when contacting the surface portion of the portable electronic device by the adhesive area of the adhesive layer, such that the adhesive area of the protective film is adhered to the surface portion of the portable electronic device;
• and
• removing air bubbles trapped between the adhesive layer and the surface portion of the portable electronic device, in which air bubbles exceeding approximately 2 mm are removed by pressure applied on the removable cap sheet from a central surface area of the removable cap sheet toward the perimeter of the protective film, the remaining air bubbles being diffused through the protective film within a predetermined time.

A method of applying a protective film to a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

• providing a protective film product comprising:
• a protective film having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface and at least one opening configured to permit access to one or more of a button, port, connector, jack, and entry point of the portable electronic device when the protective film is installed on the portable electronic device, the at least one opening positioned, relative to edges of the protective film, to align with said one or more of button, port, connector, jack and entry point when the edges of the protective film are substantially aligned with a touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device,
• an adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface of the protective film, the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive that provides tack sufficient to securely adhere the protective film to the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device without the necessity of a liquid during installation of the protective film and further allows one or more of positioning and repositioning during said installation, and
• a removable cap sheet formed from a rigid material and disposed on the second major surface of the protective film, wherein micro air pockets are formed in gaps between a surface of said cap sheet and said second major surface of said protective film,
• performing one or more of positioning and repositioning of the protective film to align with the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device;
• contacting an adhesive area of the adhesive layer to the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device;
• applying pressure to the removable cap sheet to press the adhesive area of the adhesive layer against the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device, and temporarily continuing to apply pressure such that a given target area of the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device is adhesively covered by the protective film;
• forcing air bubbles that are trapped between the adhesive layer and the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device to at least one of a first, a second, and another of the edges of the protective film by applying pressure to the removable cap sheet from a central surface area of the removable cap sheet toward any of the first, the second and another of the edges of the protective film;
• removing the removable cap sheet from the protective film to expose the second major surface of the protective film, wherein removing the removable cap sheet from the protective film does not reduce the optical clarity of the protective film;
• and
• allowing any remaining air bubbles that are trapped between the adhesive layer and the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device to diffuse through the adhesive layer and the protective film.